Centurion Ed Barnard continued his impressive form before Joe Leach made a treble breakthrough with the new ball in a superb Worcestershire fightback on the opening day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Glamorgan at New Road.
Barnard struck his third red ball hundred of the campaign as the home side recovered from 63-5 to reach 271 all out from 84.4 overs.
On a seamer-friendly pitch with the occasional ball also turning, it represented an excellent recovery and Barnard was also given fine support by Gareth Roderick.
The pair put on 120 in 40 overs for the sixth wicket with Roderick continuing the promising form he had shown in the drawn game at Durham in making an accomplished 46.
Barnard was eventually dismissed for 131 attempting a ramp shot against Michael Neser and his 182 ball knock contained two sixes and 13 fours.
Leach marked his return from a back problem with a devastating early burst as he dismissed David Lloyd, nightwatchman James Harris and Colin Ingram as Glamorgan closed on 32-3.
Leach had figures of 5-0-21-3.
Only one point separated third placed Glamorgan and Worcestershire entering the second half of the Championship campaign.
Worcestershire were put into bat on a greenish surface and the Glamorgan new ball attack of Neser and Michael Hogan made good use of the seamer friendly conditions.
Ed Pollock (0) pushed forward to the first delivery of the game from Neser and lost his middle stump.
His opening partner, Jake Libby (4), was caught behind after a similar shot against Hogan.
Taylor Cornall, playing only his second first class match, and Azhar Ali dug in in an attempt to rebuild the innings
Cornall on drove Hogan for his first boundary and flicked James Harris off his legs to the ropes.
He needed treatment after being hit on the helmet by a delivery from Neser but continued to look an accomplished performer.
Azhar on 21 was dropped at second slip off David Lloyd but then attempted to glance the same bowler without addition to his score and was caught down the leg side.
It ended a stand of 40 in 11.2 overs with Cornall.
Worcestershire Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira has three first class hundreds under his belt already this summer but on three played around a straight ball from James Harris.
Cornall on 25 he tried to work Lloyd away on the on side and became the second batter to be caught by Cullen down the legside.
Barnard twice cover drove Lloyd for boundaries as he and Gareth Roderick saw Worcestershire through to lunch at 84-5.
The sixth wicket pair mixed determined defence with some attractive stroke-play on the resumption and the half century partnership came up from 102 balls.
Barnard’s excellent summer with the bat continued as he completed a 92 ball fifty with seven boundaries.
Roderick followed up his defiant last day knock in the drawn game with Durham at Seat Unique Riverside with another important contribution.
There was just time for the duo to complete a hundred stand before a rain interruption brought about an early tea.
When play resumed, Roderick moved to within four runs of his first half century for Worcestershire before he was bowled by Harris.
Leach then steered Hogan straight into the hands of backward point and Josh Baker gloved a lifter from Harris to give Cullen his fourth catch.
But Barnard continued to attack after reaching figures and a ramp shot brought him a maximum at Harris’s expense.
He was eventually bowled attempting the same shot against Neser who then had Charlie Morris (5) caught behind to end the innings.
Leach was quickly into his stride and broke through with his third delivery when David Lloyd (4) was pouched at first slip.
In his second over, Harris (8) edged Leach to third slip and Ingram (4) was lbw after working to leg.
